VAPING: “Let’s get this out of the way for 2019”.

In a recent post, James Jarvis discussed common myths about vaping, stating “Let’s get this out of the way for 2019.”

Not only is James Jarvis is President of Ohio Vapor Trade Association (OHVTA), he’s also a consumer. I’ve been to Columbus a couple times to see him, and I’ll describe James simply as good people. He cares about smokers having proper information and he cares about the industry.

To the point, a post on his Facebook page got me to thinking… if some vapers genuinely don’t know or are confused about information, how can the public know?

Let’s change that. Now. Let’s get this out of the way: Educators and legislators must learn.

On Public Record.

With the battle preconceived and one-sided (predetermined in some instances) for power and funding, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) of their respective township, town, city, and state must be made aware of all sides of this issue in their communities.

If an opportunity arises for three minutes at a podium, this can be read, memorized – as is – or modified, printed to dispel myths about vaping products and nicotine.

Politely – and directly engaging each concern immediately in front of decision-makers, with proper sources for authorities given the task of deciding the fate of (your) regulations, restrictions, taxes, and bans shows a proactive approach to their concerns no matter what the opposition.

I saw his list and was inspired. I have provided his points about vaping (numbered) from his post and link(s) to each point made.

James said: “Let’s get this out of the way for 2019″… ” I agree.

Let’s get this out of the way

1. Popcorn Lung is not caused from vapor products

From Dr Farsalinos, Brad Rodu, Dr. Siegel and more, a collection of evidence to the contrary:

The changes being recommended by FDA include a removal of the warning that consumers should not use an NRT product if they are still smoking, chewing tobacco, using snuff or any other product that contains nicotine—including another NRT.”

4. Tomato, Eggplant, and all nightshade veggies contain nicotine

“Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae), predominantly in tobacco, and in lower quantities in tomato, potato, eggplant (aubergine), and green pepper. Nicotine alkaloids are also found in the leaves of the coca plant.”

12. Tobacco 21

A movement in the United States is raising the age of sale of tobacco to 21. While valiant in effort, it both restricts 18-year-old adults from products (e-cigs, snus, etc.) that can help them quit smoking and shows little progress to reduce smoking rates.

The Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Association (CASAA) released this statement about “Tobacco 21” laws:

Here, a study showed “Increasing the minimum legal purchase age (MLPA) to 21 years in NYC did not accelerate reductions in youth tobacco use any more rapidly than declines observed in comparison sites.”

“Beginning in 1997, Washington required states to report underage sales via the Synar Program (here). The latest Synar data shows that 9.6% of retailers were noncompliant in 2013. The FDA also conducts compliance checks of tobacco retailers. In 2016, the FDA reported a noncompliance rate of 11% (here). The FDA should focus on this far more dangerous illegal cigarette sales issue, rather than obsessing over e-cigarettes. “

14. Nicotine “addiction”

Ignored since 2011, Hanan Frenk and Reuven Dar submitted this to the Harm Reduction Journal:

“We show that the nicotine addiction model presented in this chapter, which closely resembles its 22 years old predecessor, could only be sustained by systematically ignoring all contradictory evidence.”

This shows “The effects of nicotine on the brain are similar to those of sugar, salt, exercise, and other harmless substances and events. “There are so many findings that conflict so starkly with the view that nicotine is addictive that it increasingly appears that adhering to the nicotine addiction thesis is only defensible on extra-scientific grounds.”

17. Anti -Freeze

It is not anti-freeze. Simply absurd. As of the publishing of this post, the well respected American Academy of Pediatrics is still eluding to ‘anti-freeze’ as an ingredient on their ‘quick facts’ section here.

You’re a vape shop owner? Are you saving lives and yourselves? Not afraid of the regulations your industry is under? Are you even aware there are regulations? If not, I’m talking to you. You’re probably already wondering who the hell I am and why I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. Well – let me explain myself and then we can move on from the formalities. I figure that’s only fair.

I’m not “in the industry”. I am however, a consumer. If you feel like I’m not talking to you, then you’re probably a stellar shop owner and are doing everything you can to save this industry, including your own business. As you were.

Don’t get confused, I’m also an advocate for you. Well, not really for you – for people like this lady who you haven’t met yet and about 40 million in the United States like her who may come visit YOU. See, I didn’t open a vape shop. I certainly wanted to in 2013 when I realized I could potentially help others realize what I had accidentally found out. Vaping worked when nothing else did. I say it saved my life. I get that.

I looked at doing so. I did cost analysis, looked at market trends *skyrocketing*, checked a few locations and saw 7 shops already competing within my home town of about 45,000. That itself was saturated. Still, forging ahead, I found wholesalers (NICE markups, eh?), I checked insurance rates – you know – all the things that go into starting a business.

I also gave serious consideration of the unknown FDA regulations coming down the line. I still wanted dearly to do it, but with all those factors, poor credit and having previously closed a business in 2007 – I also understood risk v.s. reward. I decided for my family – at the time, I could not take the risk.

Photo courtesy Chris Hughes

Now that the formalities are out of the way, I know you should be THE front line in the battle against every law, restriction, tax and ban any way you can. I’d bet I know your demographics better than you do. I understand nicotine strength and why it’s not addictive. I know why you’re talking people away from ego style products. I know why you’re selling high end equipment to folks who don’t WANT to blow clouds. I’ll bet I can talk shop about your first time customers as good or better than you can.

I know how you’ll lose business, and bet you the price of a brand new ego 2200 (at cost) that I could bring you more business to your shop. I’ll bet you don’t have a computer in your store to show research to customers when they have questions and I’ll wager your receipts don’t print out & tell customers about CASAA.

I’d venture to say you’re probably not a member of SFATA or the AVA or AEMSA. VTA or any local or state group. I’d bet if you had a sign explaining the FDA regulations we are ALL facing to your customers, they’d be just as pissed off as you are should be, because you’re not allowed by law to do things to properly help the next smoker who may walk through that door.

Photo courtesy Chris Hughes

I’ll bet you’re a former smoker, using +/- 3MG and you’ve got the most expensive rig available. I’ll bet you’re thinking I’m an asshole as you blow clouds at your screen. IF you’re not running e-liquid through your back room or basement, you’d be embarrassed to show me where it is you manufacture it. I’d bet you’ve tossed free shit into a crowd. If I’m describing you, I’ll bet you’re wondering how you can get your hands around my throat. That’s mutual. Save that energy, I’m not quite done yet.

I’ll venture to say you’ve pondered the trademark or intellectual properties covering the e-liquid – but after about 10 seconds, you’ve only run it through your mind a couple other times since. You’ve probably heard of marketing to children but didn’t think it applied to you. I could go on but you’re starting to either feel guilty or relate to who should be feeling guilty as described. We can still be friends, there is hope. Let’s call this a one-time free consulting session. You just need to pay attention. This, after all, is YOUR business.

I take advocacy seriously in my off hours. This is, after all, about lives. You also, regardless of the descriptions above, presumably got into the business to help people as you found it helped you. THAT is where I need your mindset to be right now before we go further. Refill your top, get over yourself. Hydrate. Let’s move on.

You should be able to spout these organizations off without fear or hesitation. You should be a member of at least ONE trade organization. Your customers, because you’re informing THEM as well as you are should be aware and a member of at least one of the consumer organizations. You know, to keep them aware in case you forget.

You should be aware of the thousands of vapers on social media who fight every day and don’t own a business. In fact, on twitter we’re called “shills” and worse, “Big Vapor” or “Big Vaping“…. I forget.

I haven’t even touched the tip of what you need to know. If you’re a vendor and you’ve read this far, I not only commend you – I respect you. See, we can be friends.

You should know who is against you. This, after all, is YOUR business.

Photo courtesy Chris Hughes

Some awesome people have made this movie, A Billion Lives. It’s an independent film. On August 6th, I drove from Dayton to Milwaukee to see the U.S. Premier. I’ve SEEN it.

NON-smokers and the PUBLIC need to see it. NOW.

Here’s their latest teaser:

You should know how this documentary, A Billion Lives needs to be seen NOW, by the MILLIONS. You should know how highly I regard Aaron Biebert, A Billion Lives, Attention Era Media, and their teams and families for the sacrifices they’ve made to make this stunning film about our fight worldwide.

You should be organizing a screening or MULTIPLE screenings in YOUR area SPONSORING or co-sponsoring it (with or without other shops) to get your name out, buying blocks of tickets. (You’re still here?) Inviting new customers and smokers.

You should be inviting politicians, the local or closest Heart, Lung & Cancer association representatives in your area. Doctors. Nurses. College professors. Making sense?

My quotes

“Without question, no one markets cigarettes or e-cigarettes more to children than Tobacco Free Kids. No one.”

“The leading cause of funding for tobacco control is taxes derived from smoking.”

“There’s a big difference in a 93% government approved failure rate and pretending people need a “plan” and “help” to quit smoking.”

“#Nicotine “addiction” causes smoking rates to decline to the lowest rates… in history. Take your time.”

“What are the health implications of deceiving smokers by regulating e-cigarettes as “tobacco” products”?

“We’re not idiots. We’re already looking for all we can know about e-cigarettes. Do you know why? We’re tired of everyone being lied to. Because we’re the stakeholder in the equation. You’re not.”

“I’m for whatever works for the informed consumer. Patch, gum, Heat Not Burn, vaping, acupuncture, books, hypnosis, counseling, etc. Do I “like” them all? No. It’s not about or me or are what “I” like. What may work as choice for a consumer is first.”

“Morals are standards set by those who want their standards met by others.”

“To debate a comparison of e-cigarettes to combustible tobacco is gross negligence or voluntary incompetence.”

“….the anti-tobacco lobby is threatened by progress. They’re not used to it.”

“The assertion of nicotine “addiction” by “public health” is profitable and absurd.”

“Oftentimes an expert will make a claim and just assume we will nod our head in agreement because that’s what YOU think we’re supposed to do because you have a title. ——Put that way before you hurt yourself. Let us take a moment to get past that, shall we?”

“When tobacco use decreases, less smoking occurs.”

“The only reason government doesn’t sell #cigarettes directly is to keep you thinking they – don’t.”

“Ecigs are a replacement for tobacco products. They are not a replacement for lost tobacco taxes.”

“Treating the symptom, not the cause – is never an effective outcome.”

“The largest threat to Public Health is an informed consumer.”

“Despite the vast claims “experts” manufacture, we, as individuals, are the experts.”

“Convincing smokers that nicotine is addictive is a multi-billion dollar global lie.”

“I’ll tell you what your government and health organizations won’t about e-cigarettes.”

“Government & those in care & custody of “public health” are lying, to their advantage – of the effectiveness of smoking cessation products.”

Vaping In The News covers media stories on smoking, vaping, snus, heat not burn, e-cigarettes, exposing tobacco control, public health, government, regulations, policies and more worldwide. The post Vaping In The News – January 19th, 2019 appeared first on Vaping Links And More.

Let’s change the conversation about the myths surrounding nicotine and vaping. The government resists ignores the opportunity to correct myths surrounding nicotine, vaping, and snus. Most things shared in mainstream media is full of multi-layered bias. There are difficulties explaining admitting vaping products and nicotine (and snus) are a safer, less harmful alternative to smoking, […]

I invested a bit of thought for the title of this particular blog. It is my intent is to both entertain and educate. With clowns to the left of me, research to the right, on average, I trust I can reach my goal. Normally I spend about two or three hours on any blog. While […]

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